IMA scales Mt 50k
In 78 years, the academy has turned 50,475 cadets into officers
Dehradun, December 10
Those who thought the passing-out parade (POP) of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) was the biggest thing to watch must not have seen the impressive light and sound show that was organised late this evening on the drill ground of the academy.

The IMA band plays on the eve of the passing-out parade of the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Bravehearts remembered
Dehradun, December 10
To pay respects to the IMA’s brave alumni, who sacrificed their lives for the nation, a remembrance ceremony was held at war memorial of the academy.

Lt-Gen RS Sujlana, Commandant, IMA, lays a wreath at the war memorial at the IMA in Dehradun
on Friday. A Tribune photograph.

534 cadets to pass out today
Dehradun, December 10
A total of 534 cadets will pass out tomorrow from the Indian Military Academy (IMA). Out of them 518 cadets are from the Indian Army, 12 are from Assam Rifles and four are from Bhutan.

Academy ready to train women cadets
Dehradun, December 10
The Indian Military Academy (IMA) is raising separate infrastructure for women, if training the fairer sex will be required at the academy in future. IMA Commandant Lt Gen RS Sujlana stated this at a press conference here today.

Anti-allergic scarves woven from nettle plants sell like hot cakes
Mussoorie, December 10
Anti-allergic scarves woven by Panchachuli women from giant nettle plants have become immensely popular among tourists and residents alike here. The increase in the demand for these scarves can been gauged by the fact that only a couple of nettle scarves are left at the Panchachuli shop in Kulri Bazar.

Teachers learn ways to make science fun
Nainital, December 10
A large number of teachers were exposed to novel methods in teaching science that would make science learning fun and would induce the children to become more curious about the principles of science at a two-day workshop being held here.

Dr Balbir was a revolutionary in his own way: Pbi varsity scholar
Dehradun, December 10
Prof Surjit Singh Bhatti from Punjabi University, Patiala, and a scholar from the Marxist Punjabi literary circle, spoke extensively on the life of late Dr Balbir Singh, an authority as interpreter of Sikh religious literature, at the Dr Balbir Singh Literature Centre in the city.Prof SS Bhatti of Punjabi University, Patiala, being honoured by Bibi Mahinder Kaur, Honorary Director, Dr Balbir Singh Literature Centre, at a function in Dehradun on
Friday. A Tribune photograph

Charu seeks promotion as general secy
Dehradun, December 10
Seeking promotion as general secretary of DAV student council, joint secretary Charu Srivastava held a press conference at the college auditorium, here yesterday.

Physiotherapy workshop ends
Dehradun, December 10
Under the aegis of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists (Uttarakhand Chapter), Beehive College, Dehradun, concluded a two-day workshop on physiotherapy here on Wednesday. Dr Neelima Patel, a lecturer at Government PG College, Baroda, and Dr Ali Irani, who had been a renowned cricket physiotherapist, chaired the workshop.

College union week begins
Dehradun, December 10
First day of union week at DAV PG College was entirely a fun-filled affair. Freshers were seen taking participation with great enthusiasm in rangoli and mehndi competitions, here today.

Two girls participate in a mehndi competition at the Union Week celebrations of DAV PG College in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Doon are TT champs
Dehradun, December 10
Dehradun defeated Udham Singh Nagar 3-0 in the final to win the team championship of the two-day state-level Women Open Table Tennis Competition organised by the Yuva Kalyan Evam Prantiya Rakshak Dal Department at the multi-purpose hall at Parade Ground here today.

Double delight for Deepak, Anil
Dehradun, December 10
District-level Under-16 Games for rural boys and girls being organised by the Yuva Kalyan Evam Prantiya Rakshak Dal Department began today at Intermediate College,
Balawala.

Winners of the various athletic events at the District-level Under-16 Games in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photograph

State youth can make it big in sports: DIG
Haridwar, December 10
Outstanding performance by Indian players in the Delhi Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Gaungzhou has once again brought focus on sports. Youths and their parents are also thinking of making sports as a career.

Nominath scripts Doon Talent Acting School win
Dehradun, December 10
Nominath (50 runs and two wickets) gave a fine all-round performance to help Doon Talent Acting School beat Royal Challengers, Dehradun, by eight wickets in the ongoing Beehive’s Inter-District T20 Tournament here today.

IMA scales Mt 50k
In 78 years, the academy has turned 50,475 cadets into officersSandeep Rana
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 10
Those who thought the passing-out parade (POP) of the Indian Military Academy (IMA) was the biggest thing to watch must not have seen the impressive light and sound show that was organised late this evening on the drill ground of the academy.

The aim of the programme was to showcase the history of the prestigious academy through the ages. The show was specially organised to commemorate the commissioning of 50,000 officers from the IMA in the Indian Army.

The trooping of colours, military band display and the light and sound show mesmerised spectators which comprised various military and civilian dignitaries, parents and family members of the gentlemen cadets.

The reviewing officer of the POP Chief of Army Staff Gen Vijay Kumar Singh and IMA’s Commandant Lt-Gen RS Sujlana graced the occasion.

The colourful lighting that gave the look of ‘queen of night’ to the IMA building was a treat to watch.

The show that started with the trooping of colours. It included the King’s colours and the first flag of the IMA covering the period from 1934 to 1962.

Then the colours and insignia of the academy covering the period from 1962 to 1976 was brought to the drill ground.

Finally, the present colour and present IMA insignia flag, which was received on December 16, 1976, was brought to the ground.

Later, the band display was performed by the three brass bands and three pipe and drum bands in the presence of the Army chief.

This was followed by a military band display in which different marching tunes were played. The impressive show concluded with the light and sound show. The history of the academy was portrayed on two screens along with the mind-boggling lighting on the IMA building.

The academy, which became functional on October 1, 1932, with a course strength of 40 GCs, has trained 49,957 officers till date. And with 534 officers to pass out tomorrow, it will cross the landmark of giving 50,000 Army officers to the nation taking the figure to 50,475.

(Top) Passing-out IMA cadets at the PT drill; and (below) an IMA cadet displays his horse-riding skills at the academy in Dehradun on Friday. Tribune photographs

Dehradun, December 10
To pay respects to the IMA’s brave alumni, who sacrificed their lives for the nation, a remembrance ceremony was held at war memorial of the academy.

Lt General Rajinder Singh Sujlana, Commandant, IMA, along with the Commandant, Deputy Commandant, CI and NOK of the martyrs laid the wreath.

The ceremony culminated with showering of petals and presentation of mementos to NOK of the martyrs. Five young officers, who sacrificed their lives while operating recently at different places, were remembered.

Out of these five valiant officers, families of two officers were present to be a part of remembrance ceremony.

These brave officers were Late Col Neeraj Sood of 18RR (RAJ RIF), Late Col Pravir Kumar Pal (sena medal of 7003 EME Battalion), Late Major Rakesh Sharma and Late Major Nikhil Prakash of 12 (Independent) reconnaissance and observation flight.

Maj Madhu Rana, wife of Maj Nikhil Prakash, took the memento. Madhukar Rao Thenge Father of Late Maj Amit Kumar Thenge took the memento.

Dehradun, December 10
A total of 534 cadets will pass out tomorrow from the Indian Military Academy (IMA). Out of them 518 cadets are from the Indian Army, 12 are from Assam Rifles and four are from Bhutan.

With the Friday’s POP, the IMA will also achieve a distinct milestone of training over 50,000 officers till date. The prestigious academy has already trained 49,957 officers and with 534 officers to pass out tomorrow, it will cross the mark of giving 50,000 Army officers to the nation, reaching 50,475 figure.

Meanwhile, Sword of Honour, which is awarded to the best all round gentlemen cadet from the regular course, will be given to Gajender Kumawat. While Jaidev, Gajender Kumawat and Gaurav Singh will be awarded with gold, bronze and silver medals, respectively.

While Sachin Kisan will get silver medal for standing first in the order of merit from the technical graduate course, Arun S Anand will walk away with the silver medal for standing first in the order of merit from the TES-16 course. Prestigious COAS Banner will be given away to Keren Company.

Addressing a press conference here today, Commandant of the academy Lt General Rajinder Singh Sujlana said Chief of the Army Staff General VK Singh will review the parade of the officers.

Dehradun, December 10
The Indian Military Academy (IMA) is raising separate infrastructure for women, if training the fairer sex will be required at the academy in future. IMA Commandant Lt Gen RS Sujlana stated this at a press conference here today.

“The academy is open and ready for training the women cadets if the need be. We have made separate infrastructure like accommodation and toilets for women and there will not be any problem,” said the IMA Commandant.

When asked whether the IMA was getting ready for the same, he replied that, “There are no directions regarding the issue so far, but in case the academy is asked to do so, the infrastructure will be ready.”

He also said the academy was raising three more company accommodations and sanctions have been given for the two of them. Women officers of the Indian Army are presently trained at the Officer Training Centre at Chennai.

Meanwhile, in order to preserve the IMA brochure, plans have been made to make it digital.

A salesperson at the Panchachuli shop shows a scarf woven from giant nettle plants in
Mussoorie.

Mussoorie, December 10
Anti-allergic scarves woven by Panchachuli women from giant nettle plants have become immensely popular among tourists and residents alike here. The increase in the demand for these scarves can been gauged by the fact that only a couple of nettle scarves are left at the Panchachuli shop in Kulri Bazar.

The Panchachuli women, apart from weaving scarves, are expert in making shawls from the giant nettle plants. According to salesperson Dharmsattu, the village women gather the giant nettle plants that are found in abundance in the Almora region during autumn. After gathering the bark from the plant, they boil beat it to pulp, bleach with chalk and then soak them for a few days. After that these are washed before processing the fibre. Then it is weaved and the end result is beautiful anti-allergic scarves.

The shawls made from this plant are also used as beautiful summer accessories and can either be used as light scarves or underlain with silk.

Dharmsattu says the history of the Panchachuli women weavers goes back to 1986 when the director of the Mukti Datta organisation, a half Belgian and half Indian, with a great deal of perseverance and diplomacy managed to change a social structure that has been dominated by men for generations. He inculcated in them a sense of dignity and courage. Mukti Dutta, aged 23, in 1986 was appalled to see the raging forest fires, uncontrolled tree felling and poaching in the Binsar forest that has unique bio-diversity. It was then she decided that she would not sit back to watch this devastation. She wrote a letter to then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi asking him to convert the area into an animal protection zone. Rajiv Gandhi answered her letter personally and with his encouragement she started a campaign to radically improve the situation in Binsar with the support of local inhabitants.

The local residents supported Mukti´s efforts and founded the Jan Jagaran Samiti (society for the empowerment of the population). The samiti was able to plant trees on uncultivated land in the region. Finally, the relentless pressure from the samiti led to Binsar being declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1988.

Following the success of the Binsar project, it was thought to search for the ways to provide relief to the women flok from their daily trek for miles into the forest to cut firewood, collect fodder and graze their cattle. In 1990, a solution came from an unexpected direction. While Mukti was camping on the Tibet border with some nomadic shepherd friends during the festival of Nanda Devi, she met Kunthi Martiola, a remarkable woman from the Sauka Bhotia tribe. The Bhotias were regular trans-Himalayan traders until the closure of the trading routes by China in 1965.

With Kunti’s help, the Pashmina wool was bought from Tibetan traders and around 100 women were trained to weave Pashmina shawls. This event dramatically changed the nature of work of women weavers of the Johar region and they began producing run-of-the-mill goods to exclusive products, including Pashmina shawls, tussar silk and vegetable dyes. This activity facilitated economic and social independence of the women in the Indian Himalayas using the traditional arts of weaving and knitting and an alternative livelihood. Today, over 800 women from total 32 villages in the region are involved in the processing of raw materials and the production of quality woven and knitted products. According to Dharmsattu, the Panchachuli women weavers is the largest independent women’s cooperative in Uttarakhand in which the women are shareholders they also get regular wages.

The Panchachuli shops are running at Nainital, Mussoorie, Kasar Devi and Almora. Their products exhibited at Delhi Haat were immensely popular. Dharmsattu says if more awareness was created towards such products in the towns and cities of Uttarakhand, especially Dehradun and Mussoorie, it would not only benefit the village women but also the state as it would have a product of its own to showcase at trade fairs in India and abroad, thus creating another Uttarakhand brand in itself.

Nainital, December 10
A large number of teachers were exposed to novel methods in teaching science that would make science learning fun and would induce the children to become more curious about the principles of science at a two-day workshop being held here.

Professor Samar Kumar Bagchi and Dr BN Das performed one experiment after another before the gathering, simplifying the concepts that are presented in a very complicated manner in text books.

Making use of everyday material, the two experts demonstrated several concepts which otherwise appear to be very complex not only for science students, but also for teachers.

The two-day event, which has been named Science Learning by Playing and Doing intends to acquaint science teachers with teaching methods that engage students while learning science with “play around” and “enjoy science” methods.

This also motivates them to ask questions and to explore the answers while continuing to ‘play around’.

It also aims at acquainting science teachers to impart pedagogy of teaching learning methods with simple experiments. Through this programme, teachers will easily understand the innovative approach and even develop more experiments once they are familiar with this kind of ‘no-cost’ and ‘low-cost’ experiments.

Prof Bagchi is a former Director of five museums of Eastern India and is a recipient of the National Award for Science Popularisation. He is known as the creator and demonstrator of the popular science “Quest” programme that had taken television viewers by storm in the 80s.

In his demonstration, he pointed that textbooks contain too many experiments that cannot be performed. He said that teachers must perform what they teach and students should also do the same to what they learn.

He said, “Children’s mind and views can be changed during the 12 years that they are in school and then, they can change the world.”

However, he rued that modern-day science and technology is being hijacked by capitalism and consumerism. Talking to The Tribune, he said, “Teachers in government schools in particular need to be motivated by giving more exposure in teaching science through simple, but interesting methods. At the policy level, a lot of emphasis is now being given towards making children creators of science.” Dr BN Das is a former Reader in physics from Vivekananda College in Kolkata and a visiting professor at Presidency College in Kolkata where he teaches crystallography.

He is a former Vice-President of the national executive committee of the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT).

The two experts through their experiments explained concepts related to Newton’s Laws, Einstein’s theory, resonance, orbital velocity, free fall, surface tension, friction and pressure by making use of small objects like plastic bottles, magnets, pendulums and water pipes.

Dehradun, December 10
Prof Surjit Singh Bhatti from Punjabi University, Patiala, and a scholar from the Marxist Punjabi literary circle, spoke extensively on the life of late Dr Balbir Singh, an authority as interpreter of Sikh religious literature, at the Dr Balbir Singh Literature Centre in the city.

Bhatti said that despite doing PhD in Chemistry from London University decades ago, Dr Balbir Singh remained humble to the core and always dressed up simply with a round turban.

“Dr Balbir Singh was gifted as both his paternal and maternal sides were intellectuals devoted to Punjabi religious literature. When he came back from London after his higher studies, he was offered an ICS job, equivalent to IAS in those days, but he spurned the offer and chose to follow his own calling - of setting up a school and becoming MD of the Punjab and Sind Bank. It can be termed as his protest against slavery - rejecting the offer to do a government job,” he said.

Bhatti said that it was not known to many, but was the fact that Dr Balbir Singh also had great rapport with Western revolutionaries during his student days at London and imbibed their traits.

Bhatti also endorsed the insight of Dr Balbir Singh as a great Gurbani interpreter and Punjabi litterateur.

Prof Harbhajan Singh, Project Director, Dr Balbir Singh Literature Centre, said that both Dr Balbir Singh and his brother Bhai Veer Singh had spread the light of knowledge regarding Punjabi literature through their consistent efforts which we all require to carry forward to our next generation.

Dehradun, December 10
The second convocation of Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) will be held here tomorrow.

The ceremony will be held at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) from 11:30 am and will be chaired by Professor SS Mantha, Chairman, All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), New Delhi.

This was announced here today by Dr DS Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor of the university

While addressing the media, Professor Chauhan said: “Around 4,979 awardees will be given certificate of merit along with medals on the occasion.

“Also Doctor if Science (Honoris Causa) will be conferred upon Prof SK Joshi, former Director-General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and Dr BK Gairola, Director-General, National Informatics Centre (NIC), Government of India, for their valuable contribution in the field of science and technology”.

“The chief guest of the ceremony will be Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who will award the gold medallists while Margaret Alva, Governor, Uttarakhand will inaugurate the ceremony,” he added.

Lekhraj (centre), vice-president of Students Federation of India (SFI), addresses a press conference in Dehradun on Thursday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, December 10
Seeking promotion as general secretary of DAV student council, joint secretary Charu Srivastava held a press conference at the college auditorium, here yesterday.

While addressing mediapersons, Charu informed that the high court has given clear order to the petition filed by her in favour of her demands. “The high court has given clear cut instructions to the college management for promoting me as general secretary from joint secretary of the college student council in case of vacant post,” said Charu.

However, state vice president of the Students Federation of India (SFI) Lekhraj also demanded to immediately implement the orders given by the high court in favour of the student council from the principal of the college.

Dehradun, December 10
Under the aegis of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists (Uttarakhand Chapter), Beehive College, Dehradun, concluded a two-day workshop on physiotherapy here on Wednesday. Dr Neelima Patel, a lecturer at Government PG College, Baroda, and Dr Ali Irani, who had been a renowned cricket physiotherapist, chaired the workshop.

The workshop aimed at providing information on muscular problems and related exercises. Dr Patel gave detailed information on diseases related to shoulders and joint pains and how it could be treated by physiotherapy. She also focused on the importance and scope of physiotherapy as a profession and a course.

Dehradun, December 10
First day of union week at DAV PG College was entirely a fun-filled affair. Freshers were seen taking participation with great enthusiasm in rangoli and mehndi competitions, here today.

Speaker of the State Assembly Harbans Kapoor inaugurated the union week. BJP state general secretary Mayank Gupta and president of the Rajya Andolan Samman Parishad Usha Rawat were also present on the occasion.

Students made exotic rangolis from colours, lentils, flowers and earthen lamps, while some showed their finesse in making intricate designs with henna. Later in the day, the winners of the competitions were announced. Dharmender, Megha and Gunjan bagged the first, second and third position, respectively, in the rangoli competition. Bharti Negi, Anjali and Sunaina Chamoli were declared winners in the mehndi competition.

The rangoli was adjudged on the basis of design, colour combination, presentation and teamwork, while mehndi was adjudged on the grounds of intricate design and finesse. The judges of the competitions were Dr Hariom Singh, Dr Puneet Saxena and Dr Satyam Drivedi.

Dehradun, December 10
Dehradun defeated Udham Singh Nagar 3-0 in the final to win the team championship of the two-day state-level Women Open Table Tennis Competition organised by the Yuva Kalyan Evam Prantiya Rakshak Dal Department at the multi-purpose hall at Parade Ground here today.

Haridwar, December 10
Outstanding performance by Indian players in the Delhi Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in Gaungzhou has once again brought focus on sports. Youths and their parents are also thinking of making sports as a career.

Aspects related to physical education, health and sports are being dwelt upon in the ongoing national seminar on modern trends and directions of physical education and sports in the Gurukul Kangri University, being organised at the Sports complex of the Dayanand Stadium. Experts from various states are participating in the conference.

“With right directions and technical inputs the state youths can excel in sports,” said Deputy Inspector General (mela police) Alok Sharma. “The state can produce international-level sports persons if the need of right guidance, coaching and opportunities is fulfilled. Healthy sporting traits should be inculcated at the school level,” he added.

Elaborating technical aspect in modern day sports Prof JS Brar of Panjab University said today was a world of competition, with technical aspect assuming great proportions in enhancing performances.

Brar opined that unless the Indian sporting system was not tech savvy with more collaboration with foreign sport centres, it would not be easy to bridge the gap with the countries like China, USA, Russia, Australia and even Korea, as seen in the Guangzhou Games.

Supporting wide usage of modern technology in health-cum-sports arena, host university Vice-Chancellor Swatantra Kumar said technology usage should be done in respect with the Indian values, as traditional Indian system was quite effective.

A batsman plays a defensive stroke in the Senior Council Cricket Tournament at
St Joseph’s Academy in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, December 10
Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy (RRMA) will lock horns with hosts St Joseph’s Academy in the final of the Senior Council Cricket Tournament tomorrow.

In today’s semifinal, RRMA beat St Jude’s School by five wickets. St Jude’s School won the toss and opted to bat first.

They scored 101 runs in 19.1 overs before getting all out. Sean (35) and Abhay (20) were the main scorers for the side.

Aksat got three wickets. Sushil, Mukund and Vipul got two wickets each for RRMA. Batting second, Parth (27) and Sandeep (19) were the principal scorers. The team achieved the target in 18.1 overs for the loss of five wickets.

A batsman plays a pull shot in a match of the Beehive’s Inter-District T20 Tournament at Matawala Bagh Grounds in Dehradun on
Friday. A Tribune photograph

Dehradun, December 10
Nominath (50 runs and two wickets) gave a fine all-round performance to help Doon Talent Acting School beat Royal Challengers, Dehradun, by eight wickets in the ongoing Beehive’s Inter-District T20 Tournament here today.

Royal Challengers won the toss and opted to bat first. The team set a target of 125 runs in 20 overs for nine wickets. Anish (17), Ravi (17) and Mohit (11) showed some signs of scoring good runs but they couldn’t last long on the pitch.

Rohit of Doon Acting School took three wickets. Nominath and Amit Chaudhary got two wickets each. Manu and Ankush also got a wicket each.

In reply, Doon Acting School quickly achieved the target in 12.5 overs losing two wickets only. It was Nominath (50) who played a well deserved half-century to guide his team home.

Virat Raghav (16) and Nitin (12) supported him from the other end. For rival team, Amar was the only success in bowling with two wickets.